Cell centrifugation system

Abstract

The invention is directed to a cell centrifugation system comprising sensors (6b) and / or actor (6a) connected to means for electromagnetic radiation (12), which is configured to transmit electric signals via electromagnetic radiation with a control unit (14).

Description

CELL CENTRIFUGATION SYSTEMField of the invention

[0001] The present invention is directed to a cell centrifugation system comprising a rotating cell centrifugation chamber equipped with sensors and / or actors and means for electromagnetic radiation capable of transmitting electric signals to / from the rotating chamber to a static control unit.Background of the invention

[0002] Cell centrifugation systems comprising centrifugation chambers for cultivating and / or separating cells are well known, for example as disclosed in W02009072003A2 or W02009072006. Controlling the centrifugation (centrifugation) process in such chambers is a challenging process since various parameters like temperature, gas concentration or separation status need to be monitored, but the chambers in such system are rotating at high rotational speeds making direct electric connection to any kind of senor technically challenging.

[0003] Accordingly, the cell centrifugation as disclosed in W02009072003A2 or W02009072006 propose indirect methods like cameras or IR sensors positioned (static) outside of the chamber. Such indirect methods to measure physical parameters inside the chamber are inaccurate due to interference of the material from which the chamber is manufactured.

[0004] It was found that physical parameters in such systems can be measured directly inside the chamber by sensors embedded in the material from which the chamber is manufactured, and the resulting data can be transmitted to an static control outside of the chamber unit via electromagnetic radiation. It was further found that not only sensors may be addressed this way, but also actuators, making direct interaction with the cells inside of the chamber possible.

[0005] Object of the invention is therefore a cell centrifugation system comprising a) cell centrifugation chamber (1) configured for or capable of rotational movement having a circular base plate (2), a cladding (3) which is oriented perpendicular to the rotational axis (4), and a circular cover plate (5) b) a motor with drive shaft (7) providing rotational movement to the cell centrifugation chamber (1) c) wherein the drive shaft (7) and the circular base plate (2) are provided with interconnecting means configured to mechanically interlock with each other (8,9) characterized in that d) at least one of the circular base plate (2), cladding (3), rotational axis (4) and circular cover plate (5) is provided with at least one actor (6a) detecting physical parameterswithin the centrifugation chamber (1) and / or at least one sensor (6b) acting on physical parameters within the centrifugation chamber (1) e) wherein the sensor (6b) and / or the actor (6a) are in electric connection with electric connectors (10) provided in the circular base plate (2) and f) the drive shaft (7) is provided with electric connectors (11) configured to interlock with the electric connectors (10) of the circular base plate (2); and with a first means for electromagnetic radiation (12) connected to the electric connectors (11) g) a second, stationary means for electromagnetic radiation (13) is provided adjacent to the first means for electromagnetic radiation (12), wherein both are configured to transmit electric signals between each other via electromagnetic radiation h) a control unit (14) connected to the second, stationary means for electromagnetic radiation (13) capable of storing, transmitting or receiving the electric signals.

[0006] In other words, the cell centrifugation chamber capable of rotational movement can be a chamber designed as disclosed in W02009072006 being further equipped with sensors / actuators connectors etc. described as follows.

[0007] Another object of the invention is the use of the cell centrifugation system according to the invention for cell separation, cell cultivation and cell transduction and / or methods of cell separation, cell cultivation and cell transduction using the cell centrifugation system according to the invention.

[0008] The cell centrifugation chamber (1) may be configured of a rotational movement of 300- 3000 rpm. The rotational movement of the chamber may be adjusted to the needs of processing. For example, cell separation many require a higher a rotational movement like 2000-3000 rpm, whereas cell cultivation and cell transduction require lower speeds like 100 to 500 rpm. The direction of the rotational movement may also change at intervals during the processing, especially during cell cultivation to enable better mixing and gas absorption.Brief description of the drawings

[0009] Fig. 1 shows a cell centrifugation chamber according to the prior art (W02009072006).

[0010] Fig. 2 to 4 show schematic drawings of embodiments of the invention.Detailed description of the invention

[0011] Fig. 1 shows a cell centrifugation chamber according to the prior art (W02009072006) which can be redesigned to be used within the cell centrifugation system according to the invention.

[0012] Similar to the chamber used in the invention, the cell centrifugation chamber of the prior art has a circular base plate (2), a cladding (3) which is oriented perpendicular to the rotational axis (4), and a circular cover plate (5).

[0013] However, the system described here does not enable monitoring of vital cell parameters within the chamber. W02009072006 discloses to this effect only a camera and a temperature detector positioned outside of the chamber. For a real-time control of for example pH, O2, CO2, electric conductivity, light transmission, glucose, lactate, or biomass, measurements inside the chamber are required.

[0014] To this end, the present invention proposes providing at least one of the circular base plate (2), cladding (3), rotational axis (4) and circular cover plate (5) is provided with at least one sensor (6b) detecting physical parameters within the centrifugation chamber (1) and / or at least one actor (6a) acting on physical parameters within the centrifugation chamber (1).

[0015] Preferable, the thus obtained electric signals transmitted between first and second means for electromagnetic radiation are configured to exchange data and / or energy. Such exchange can be for example performed under the QI standard known for charging mobile phones.

[0016] Exchange of data can be controlled by a microprocessor like an Arduino board.

[0017] The electromagnetic radiation used should be as low in energy as possible, for example electromagnetic radiation known for short distance WiFi connection, RFID connection or the well-known Bluetooth connection can be used.

[0018] The cell centrifugation system according to the invention may be provided with sensors (6b) which are configured to detect physical parameters selected from the group consisting of temperature, pH, O2, CO2, electric conductivity, light transmission, glucose, lactate, or biomass. Preferable, the sensors are disposable like the commercially available sensor PT100 / PT1000.

[0019] The cell centrifugation system according to the invention may be provided with actuators selected from the group consisting of pumps, valves, LEDs, LASER, cameras, photodetectors, heating units, cooling units like a Peltier element, piezo elements and / or ultrasonic head / transducers. Preferable, the actuators are disposable.

[0020] LEDs or LASER can be used to illuminate and / or excite the content of the chamber, for example to determine cell density, cell composition or cell morphology, preferable on a photodetector.

[0021] Besides pumping fluids between the cavities and in and out of the chamber, actuators in form of pumps can be used mix the fluids and gases within a cavity / chamber or to provide circulation within a cavity / chamber.

[0022] Optionally, the cell centrifugation chamber is provided with at least two cavities which are in fluidic communication with each other, wherein the fluidic communication is controlled by at least one actor (valve or pump).

[0023] The at least two cavities may be provided as concentric chambers separated by at least one wall (17) sharing an angle of 60 - 120° (preferable 90°) with the rotational axis (4) (as shown in Fig. 2, oriented perpendicular to rotational axis (4)) or as chambers separated by at least one wall (16) sharing an angle of +- 30° (preferable 0°) with the circular base plate (2) and / or the circular cover plate (5) (as shown in Fig. 3, oriented parallel circular base plate (2) and / or the circular cover plate (5) and Fig. 4).

[0024] In the embodiment shown in Fig.4, fluids can enter cavities top-down by gravitation alone without the need of pumps as actuators.

[0025] In the embodiments of the invention wherein fluidic communication is controlled by at least one actor (6a), the flow of fluids inside of the chamber can be controlled. For example, by using valves as actors, withdrawal of fluids from the chamber can be activated / deactivated from within the chamber, reducing loss of cells by avoiding dead volume. In the embodiments of the invention utilizing more than one cavity, valves as actors can control the flow of fluids from one cavity to another. The flow of fluids though such valves can be initiated either passively by the centrifugal forces during centrifugation or active by using a pump as actor.

[0026] The electric connectors of the drive shaft and / or the electric connectors of the circular base plate may be configured as spring loaded pins or contact fingers.

[0027] Preferable, the sensors are embedded in the circular base plate, cladding and circular cover plate without contact to the fluids in the cell centrifugation chamber. Due to the rotational movement of the chamber, unbalance should be avoided by adding appropriate counterweight.

[0028] Due to measuring / detecting physical parameters inside of the chamber, the cell centrifugation system according to the invention can be configured to adjust the physical parameters for cell centrifugation as detected by the sensors against pre-set values for the physical parameters.

[0029] As safety feature, the sensors may further detect the interlocking of the cell centrifugation chamber with the drive shaft.

Claims

Claims1. Cell centrifugation system comprising a) cell centrifugation chamber (1) configured for rotational movement having a circular base plate (2), a cladding (3) which is oriented perpendicular to the rotational axis (4), and a circular cover plate (5) b) a motor with drive shaft (7) providing rotational movement to the cell centrifugation chamber (1) c) wherein the drive shaft (7) and the circular base plate (2) are provided with interconnecting means configured to mechanically interlock with each other (8,9) characterized in that d) at least one of the circular base plate (2), cladding (3), rotational axis (4) and circular cover plate (5) is provided with at least one actor (6a) detecting physical parameters within the centrifugation chamber (1) and / or at least one sensor (6b) acting on physical parameters within the centrifugation chamber (1) e) wherein the sensor (6b) and / or the actor (6a) are in electric connection with electric connectors (10) provided in the circular base plate (2) and f) the drive shaft (7) is provided with electric connectors (11) configured to interlock with the electric connectors (10) of the circular base plate (2); and with a first means for electromagnetic radiation (12) connected to the electric connectors (11) g) a second, stationary means for electromagnetic radiation (13) is provided adjacent to the first means for electromagnetic radiation (12), wherein both are configured to transmit electric signals between each other via electromagnetic radiation h) a control unit (14) connected to the second, stationary means for electromagnetic radiation (13) capable of storing, transmitting or receiving the electric signals.

2. The cell centrifugation system according to claim 1, characterized in that the electric signals transmitted between first (12) and second (13) means for electromagnetic radiation are configured to exchange data and / or energy.

3. The cell centrifugation system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sensors (6b) are configured to detect physical parameters selected from the group consisting of temperature, pH, O2, CO2, electric conductivity, light transmission, glucose, lactate, or biomass.

4. The cell centrifugation system according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that actuators (6a) are selected from the group consisting of pumps, valves, LEDs, LASER, cameras, heating units, cooling units, piezo elements.

5. The cell centrifugation system according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cell centrifugation chamber (1) is provided with at least two cavities (15) which are in fluidic communication with each other wherein the fluidic communication is controlled by at least one actor (6a).

6. The cell centrifugation system according to claim 5, characterized in that the at least two cavities (15) are provided as concentric chambers separated by at least one wall (17) sharing an angle of 60 - 120 to the rotational axis (4).

7. The cell centrifugation system according to claim 5, characterized in that the at least two cavities (15) are provided as chambers separated by at least one wall (16) sharing an angle of +- 30° with the circular base plate (2) and / or the circular cover plate (5).

8. The cell centrifugation system according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the electric connectors of the drive shaft (11) and / or the electric connectors of the circular base plate (10) are configured as spring loaded pins or contact fingers.

9. The cell centrifugation system according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the sensors (6b) are embedded in the circular base plate (2), cladding (3) and circular cover plate (5) without contact to the interior of the cell centrifugation chamber (1).

10. The cell centrifugation system according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the sensors (6b) detect the interlocking of the cell centrifugation chamber with the drive shaft.

11. The cell centrifugation system according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the cell centrifugation chamber (1) is configured of a rotational movement of 300-3000 rpm.

12. Use of the cell centrifugation system according to any of claims 1 to 11 for cell separation, cell cultivation and cell transduction.

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